Separable connector for printed circuit cards



May 16, 1961 J. K. SCOTT 2,984,814

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT CARDS Filed July 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. d/i'M'S A. 5 0 7T WWW (3.44M) a 7 7024 Y:

y 16, 1961 J. K. SCOTT 2,984,814

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT CARDS Filed July l2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l 2 9 j I 38 F-L- E 58 6o 2 41 mmvrox.

United States Patent SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT CARDS James K. Scott Baltimore, Md., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed July 12, 1957, Ser. No. 671,683

2 Claims. (Cl. 339-64) This invention relates to a connector for printed circuit cards and, more particularly, to a separable two-part connector.

The types of connectors now available for use have been found to be unreliable because of their susceptibility to damage, misalignment and other related causes. In one type of connector now available for use, theedge of the printed card is inserted as the male portion of the connector into a trough-like female portion containing the contacts. Exact sizing of the card is necessary to insure contact and prevent breaking. Furthermore, the slots acts as a Water trap and since there is no barrier between contacts, there is constant danger of short circuits. Frequent misalignments cause delay and breakage.

The devices as yet available, while acceptable at standard temperatures and pressures, are capable of only low voltage breakdowns and are not capable of withstanding humid or high altitude conditions of pressure and temper-ature. Furthermore, they are subject to dirt and moisture contamination.

p The object of the invention is, broadly, the provision of a device to overcome difiiculties inherent in equipment now available for use.

Specifically, a further object of the invention is the provision of a connector for printed circuits, the elements ofwhich may also be used for three dimensional installations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a connector which is not subject to breakage, and one which provides perfect, instantaneous and permanent alignment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a connector which has protection for exposed pins, easy grounding and high voltage breakdown ratings.

. Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a connector, one element of which is provided with a trough for moisture collection and containment, for barriers, etc., located so that the moisture thus accumulated cannot damage the equipment or cause short circuits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a special construction of connector which allows for a greater degree of misalignment and imperfection of parts than was heretofore possible.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a, reliable, universal, and durable instrument which, among other advantages, simplifies wiring complexities and greatly increases ease in mounting.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved connector assembly unit which is more easily dip-soldered to a circuit board, and which has securing means in addition to the interconnecting contact portions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shielded connector assembly, provided with a quick, convenient and effective grounding surface.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved placement of securing means for connector unit for space saving, especially important in miniaturization.

These and other advantages will appear as the descrip tion proceeds.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the connector installed by Way of example on a printed circuit card.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the assembled device looking in the direction of the arrow 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower or female portion of the connector.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the mating members in position before contact.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, a printed card is represented by the numeral 25. In application, this may be a series of printed circuit cards or boards and may be mounted in racks or otherwise as desired for radar and other types of equipment. The invention has universal application for electrical connectors. It can be used for three dimensional equipment, for example, where racks of printed cards are vertically or horizontally mounted. in close parallel relation to one another. The connector unit 10 is composed of two separate elements, which together form a unit installation, a male upper section 12 and a lower female section 1-4. The upper section is composed of a nonconducting block 16 of vitreous or like material, having secured thereto an aluminum shell 18. A series of pins 20 are shown in two staggered rows. They are provided with horizontally extending portions 22, which protrude from the rear side of the block 16 and are engageable in complementary sockets or openings 24 in the printed card 25. They are also provided with vertically and downwardly extending portions 26, which protrude from the block 16 and are protected by the surrounding shell 18. It will be seen that while the pins extend rearwardly from the block '16 in two staggered rows, they extend vertically downward in a. single line row. This arrangement is, of course,

optional. Typical conductors are indicated at 27 in Fig. 1.

The shell 18 is provided with a pair of bracket ends extending in normal relationship to each other at each for nonreversible, complementary, polarized engagement with a sheath portion to be later described.

The lower or female section 14 is shown made up of four sections, two of metal, preferably aluminum, and two of vitreous or other nonconducting material. This specific formation is described for exemplifying purposes only. It is conceivable that two sections may be used in place of four, one metal, and one vitreous. A lower plate section 38 is made up of two horizontal solid ends 42, and an elongated orifice provided with oblique ends 45. A sheath portion 40 has end plates 43 integral therevw'th and exterior thereto. The plates 42 and 43, as above noted, may be made of a single solid piece. They are provided with corresponding openings :for accommodating the floating eyelets or open rivets 44. This arrangement, in addition to providing securing means, also provides play and misalignment allowance up to onesixteenth inch.

The sheath section 40 is provided with oblique and nonparallel ends 46, which are complementary to the oblique nonparallel ends of the shell 18, thus providing complementary nonsymmetry or polarity, and precluding the possibility of incorrect assembly. The initially mating edges of the sheath 40 and the shell 18 are respectively exterior-1y and interiorly chamfered as shown at 47 and 66 in Figs. 4 and 7. This insures that the shell and sheath are engaged and lined up before the contacts mate. This prevents bending of the pins or damaging of contacts.

The shell and sheath permit elTect-ive grounding of the entire connector, especially in shielding assemblies where a quick, convenient, and effective grounding surface has not been available before.

Secured within the sheath 40 are an upper block portion 50 and a lower portion 52 of vitreous or other nonconducting material. These elements may conceivably be of unitary and undivided block structure. The upper portion 50 is provided with a shoulder 54 which engages a shoulder 56 on the sheath 40 and serves as a securing means for both.

The element 50 is also provided with a bore 58 for accommodating entrance of the pins 26, a counterbore 62, and a second counterbore 63, for receiving the contact socket 60, later described. The end walls of the members 50 and 52 are obliquely formed for fitting into the sheath 40, and to preclude incorrect assembly.

The upper edge of the sheath portion 40' is provided with an upstanding flange 66 and a lateral flange portion 64, which, together with the upper edge of block 50, form a trough or moisture sink for the containment of accumulated moisture. In devices now in use, moisture from condensation and other sources is allowed to creep between contacts, resulting in short circuits and other sorts of damage. In the device of the invention, the moisture is held in the trough or moisture sink in an area separated from the electrical contacts.

The block 52 is provided with a series of bores and counterbores to accommodate hollow cylindrical solder cups 70 on contact 60, which cups have integral collars or shoulders 74. The cups 70 have angular lower ends 76 formed at an angle for ease in dip soldering or other desired types of contact with inlet or outlet members 78. In some instances it may be desirable that the cup 70 be rotatable. In the device as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the collars 74 are flattened on diametrically opposite sides 80, and are restrained from rotation by cemplementary flattened sides of the bore 63. Rotation and incorrect fitting of pins is thus prevented.

The upper contact ends 60 of the solder cups 70 are split, as shown at 84, to provide spring receiving and retaining means for the ends of the pins 26. This is a standard female contact.

The element 52 is provided with raised parts 86 for additional separation of current carrying members, and to prevent creeping of moisture. Index characters may be used where desirable, as shown on element 52 in Fig. 3, for aid in getting the various contact elements properly mated. For example, an inlet or outlet member such as shown in Fig. 2 at 78 and labeled S, indicates to the operator that this specific inlet must make contact with S as indicated on the member 52.

It will be seen that play, as previously pointed out, is allowed up to as much as one-sixteenth of an inch. This allows for imperfections in manufacture of parts, and mishandling, which are accommodated and compensated for.

It will also be seen that the complementary angular mated relationship of the shell and sheath ends, and the members 50 and 52, in the plate 88, preclude end to end switching of parts, and, consequently, they cannot be fitted together and assembled improperly.

The unit provides compact means for secure anchoring of the elements to one another, and to the circuit card and cabinet, ingeniously placed to save space, which is vitally important in miniaturization.

While the invention is shown and described in connection with one form for illustrative, rather than restrictive purposes, it is obvious that changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A two-sectional electrical connector assembly unit for printed and other card circuits comprising, a first section adapted to be connected to a circuit card and a second section adapted to be connected to a cabinet or other card, said first section comprising an elongated in sulating block, a plurality of electrical contact pins protruding downwardly from said block and an elongated shell member mounted in said insulating block and surrounding the area of said protruding pins, said second section comprising a second insulating block having a plurality of openings therethrough, contact sockets in said openings for receiving said contact pins, a sheath surrounding said insulating block, a trough for mositure collection and containment positioned out of contact with said interengaging pins and sockets and formed by the upper outer periphery of said second elongated block and the upper portion of said sheath, said shell having a sheath-enclosing hollow portion for interfitting relationship with said sheath, an internally chamfered area at the lower edge of said shell, an exteriorly chamfered area on said sheath for guiding said pins into exact mating with said sockets.

2. A device according to claim 1 including a pair of flange members on said second section located one at each end of said first section and exteriorly of said sheath member, means on each of said flanges for attachment of said second section to a support, said means comprising an opening in each flange, a floating eyelet mounted in each of said openings for allowing play.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Buggie, Inc., January 8, 1954, pages 5 and 8.

Buggie, Electronic Components News, March 1954,

page 2. V

U.S.C., Tele-Tech, December 1955, page 105. Elso, Electronic Design, April 15, d957, page 93. 

